North Korea Seeks To Boost Nuclear Capability

Kim Jong-Un has reportedly ordered North Korea to carry out more ballistic missile launches to improve the country's nuclear attack capability.

The country's official KCNA news agency said the order came after the North Korean leader witnessed a ballistic missile test.

The KCNA report did not say when the test took place, although it likely referred to the launch of two short-range missiles earlier this week.

The test came hours after Kim said his military had successfully miniaturised nuclear warheads which can be mounted on ballistic missiles.

"Dear comrade Kim Jong-Un said work ... must be strengthened to improve nuclear attack capability and issued combat tasks to continue nuclear explosion tests to assess the power of newly developed nuclear warheads and tests to improve nuclear attack capability," KCNA said.

The UN Security Council adopted a new sanctions resolution against North Korea after the country carried out its fourth nuclear test in January and fired a long-range missile last month.

The North has a large stockpile of short-range missiles and is developing long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Asked about Kim's comments, South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said: "It's simply rash and thoughtless behaviour by someone who has no idea how the world works."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Pyongyang to "cease destabilising acts," adding that Ban remained "gravely concerned" by the situation.